Review - Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus VI Hero

Review - Motherboard Asus ROG Maximus VI Hero

Overview

ROG joining privileges now more accessible! Introducing Maximus VI Hero, the newest series from the ROG family, which packs outstanding quality, overclocking capabilities, and gamer-friendly features such as in-game visualized Sonic Radar detection and GameFirst II network optimization.
It’s also loaded with amazing reliability, exclusive SupremeFX crystal-clear audio, and famous ROG dynamic tweaking powers, as well as the brand’s attractive red and black design. But there’s more: look below to check it out! 

The Republic of Gamers consists only the best of the best. We offer the best hardware engineering, the fastest performance, the most innovating ideas, and we welcome the best gamers to join in.

In the Republic of Gamers, mercy rules are only for the weak, and bragging rights means everything. We believe in making statements and we excel in competitions. If your character matches our trait, then join the elite club, make your presence felt, in the Republic of Gamers.

Re-arm with better sound and faster networking

SupremeFX 
Supremacy through discrete-caliber audio 
ROG-exclusive technology implements multi-approach shielding, with ELNA audio capacitors helping offer 8-channel HD sound that's equal in power, clarity, and range to dedicated sound cards. This is the first-ever onboard sound capable of true audiophile-grade performance, set to revolutionize the way you hear games, movies, music, and even other people via chat. Discover a whole new dimension of superior audio and get ready to rule. 

SupremeFX shielding: ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference from within the PCB and from other components. 
EMI protection cover: protects HD audio chip from interference to ensure sound quality. 
ELNA premium Japan-made audio capacitors: provide warm, natural, and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity that are great for game effects and multimedia.


Perfect Voice 
Upgraded noise cancellation 
Simple and effective technology greatly improves VoIP with crystal-clear communications and no additional array microphones needed.

Noise Gate 
Exclusive digital signal processing removes noise during pauses in speech and other periods of silence.

Noise Reduction 
Spectral subtraction algorithm analyzes and determines the amount of ambient noise to be countered.


Upgraded UEFI BIOS
Most award-winning in segment 
The new ROG UEFI BIOS includes a Last Modified feature that records recent changes. And to make sure you never forget a tuning idea, the in-BIOS Quick Note is perfect for jotting down memos and system details. It sure beats easily-misplaced paper notes! There’s also F4 My Favorites and Shortcuts for easy access to the BIOS features you need most, and you can even adjust boot logo size. The new BIOS also lets you name individual SATA ports so you can easily identify them to save time when defining boot sequences and other drive-related settings. 

With ROG Pulse, a cool flashing ROG logo indicates system activity, and very importantly, the helpful SSD Secure Erase has been added, restoring SSD speed from inside the BIOS and with no need for less compatible third party utilities. Click the upper right tab to learn more.


SLI/CrossFire On-Demand 
Why choose when you can have both? 
SLI or CrossFireX? Fret no longer because with the ROG Maximus VI HERO, you’ll be able to run both multi-GPU setups. The board features SLI/CrossFire on Demand technology, supporting up to Quad-GPU SLI or Quad-GPU CrossFireX configuration. Whichever path you take, you can be assured of jaw-dropping graphics at a level previously unseen.


SSD Secure Erase 
Recover lost performance. Back to high speed SSD 
performance degrades with time due to overwrite action. ROG is the world’s first motherboard brand to integrate SSD Secure Erase into UEFI BIOS for better compatibility and easier use, offering the best removal method to completely delete all data on an SSD to recover lost performance and restore factory speeds.


2nd generation T-Topology 
5%+ full load OC margin and 10%+ with one DIMM 
For extreme memory overclocking under full load, ASUS developed the world’s first 2nd generation T-Topology. It further optimizes layout to minimize coupling noise and signal reflection, increasing DRAM overclocking. Testing shows around 5% more OC margin under full load, and 10% OC margin growth for one-DIMM configurations.





Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization 
One click for better performance, efficiency, digital power control, reduced noise, and improved cooling.

ROG – that special extra 
Kaspersky® Anti-Virus 
The best protection from viruses and spyware Kaspersky® Anti-Virus Personal offers premium antivirus protection for individual users and home offices. It is based on advanced antivirus technologies. The product incorporates the Kaspersky® Anti-Virus engine, which is renowned for malicious program detection rates that are among the industry's highest.


ROG CPU-Z

Whole new design of CPU-Z ROG CPU-Z 
is a customized ROG version authorized by CPUID. It has the same functionality and credibility as the original version, with a unique design. Use the whole new look of ROG CPU-Z to truly report your CPU related information and your uniqueness.



DAEMON Tools Pro Standard 
The real tool for optical and virtual discs 
DAEMON Tools Pro offers essential functionality to backup CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs. It converts optical media into virtual discs and emulates devices to work with the virtual copies. DAEMON Tools Pro organizes data, music, video and photo collections on a PC, notebook or netbook.


Mem TweakIt 
Dynamic timing adjustments, DRAM efficiency gauge 
When changing DRAM settings in BIOS, it always takes time for the system to reboot. Worry no more! With Mem TweakIt, you can do DRAM tuning in real-time and view your DRAM efficiency score.



Intel® LGA1150 4th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Ready 
This motherboard supports Intel® 4th generation Core™ i7/i5/i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors in the LGA1150 package, with iGPU, memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support onboard graphics output with dedicated chipsets, 2-channel (4 DIMM) DDR3 memory and 16 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes. This provides great graphics performance. Intel® 4th generation Core™ i7/i5/i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors are among the most powerful and energy efficient CPUs in the world.


Intel® Z87 Express Chipset 
The Intel® Z87 Express chipset is a single-chipset design that supports socket LGA1150 4th generation Intel® Core™ i7/i5/i3/Pentium®/Celeron® processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. It natively supports up to six USB 3.0 ports for up to ten times faster transfer rates than USB 2.0. Moreover, the Intel® Z87 Express chipset also supports iGPU functionality, letting users enjoy the latest Intel integrated graphics performance.


GreenASUS 
Motherboards are EU Energy-related Products (ErP) ready, which requires products meet high efficiency standards with regards to energy consumption. This is in line with the ASUS vision of creating environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient products through design and innovation that reduce the carbon footprint of products and thus mitigate ecological impact.


Specifications

CPU	Intel® Socket 1150 for 4th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors  Supports Intel® 22 nm CPU  Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Chipset	Intel® Z87
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C. )/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/ 1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Graphic	Integrated Graphics Processor  - Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™
Multi-GPU Support	Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology  Supports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Expansion Slots	2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8, red) 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (black) *1 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 *2
Storage	Intel® Z87 chipset :  6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red  Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10  Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *3  ASMedia® ASM1061 controller : *4  2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
LAN	Intel® I217V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Audio	ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking Audio Feature : - SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology - ELNA premium audio capacitors - Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection - Sonic Radar - DTS Connect - Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
USB Ports	Intel® Z87 chipset : *5 6 x USB 3.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, blue, 2 at mid-board) Intel® Z87 chipset : *6 8 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 4 at mid-board)
ROG Exclusive Features	Extreme Engine Digi+ III : - 8 + 2 phase power design - NexFET™ Power Block MOSFET - 60A BlackWing Chokes - 10K Black Metallic Capacitors UEFI BIOS features : - ROG BIOS Print - GPU.DIMM Post - Tweakers' Paradise - ROG SSD Secure Erase ROG RAMDisk GameFirst II Extreme Tweaker
Special Features	ASUS Dual Intelligent Processors 4 with 4-Way Optimization : - The tuning key perfectly consolidates ASUS-exclusive DIGI+ Power Control, TPU, EPU, and Fan Xpert 2 optimize the digital power setting, system performance, power saving and whole system cooling configuration CPU Level Up ASUS Exclusive Features : - USB BIOS Flashback - MemOK! - AI Suite 3 - Ai Charger - USB Charger+ - USB 3.0 Boost - Disk Unlocker ASUS EZ DIY : - ASUS O.C. Profile - ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 - ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS Q-Design : - ASUS Q-Shield - ASUS Q-Code - ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED) - ASUS Q-Slot - ASUS Q-DIMM - ASUS Q-Connector Overclocking Protection : - ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Operating System Support	Windows® 8.1 Windows® 8 Windows® 7
Back I/O Ports	1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)  1 x HDMI  1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)  4 x USB 3.0  4 x USB 2.0  1 x Optical S/PDIF out  6 x Audio jack(s)  1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
Internal I/O Ports	1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) 2 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 port(s) 1 x TPM connector(s) 8 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s) 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) 3 x Chassis Fan connector(s) 1 x S/PDIF out header(s) 1 x 8-pin EATX 12 V Power connector 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s) 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP) 1 x System panel(s) 1 x DirectKey Button(s) 1 x DRCT header(s) 1 x MemOK! button(s) 1 x Power-on button(s) 1 x Reset button(s) 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) 1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header(s)
Accessories	User's manual I/O Shield 6 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s) 1 x SLI bridge(s) 1 x Q-connector(s) (2 in 1) 1 x 12 in 1 ROG Cable Label(s) 1 x ROG Door Hanger(s)
BIOS	64Mb UEFI AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.7, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI5.0a Multi-Language BIOS
Manageability	WfM 2.0, DMI 2.7, WOL by PME, PXE
Support Disc	Drivers ROG GameFirst II ROG RAMDisk ROG CPU-Z ROG Mem TweakIt Kaspersky® Anti-Virus DAEMON Tools Pro Standard ASUS WebStorage ASUS Utilities
Form Factor	ATX Form Factor 12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm )
Note	*1: The PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (PCIEX4_3) supports up to x4 mode. It shares bandwidth with PCIe 2.0 x1 slots. The default setting is x1 mode. *2: The PCIe 2.0 x1 slots (PCIEX1_1/2/3) will be disabled when PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (PCIEX4_3 )  operates under x4 speed. *3: The supported functions depends on the CPU  installed. *4: These SATA ports are for data hard drives only. ATAPI devices are not supported. *5: Support ASUS USB 3.0 Boost, UASP standard on the Intel native USB 3.0 is only supported under Windows® 8. *6: 2 x USB2.0 ports at mid-board shares with ROG extension (ROG_EXT) port.

For more information please visit : Asus